Unexpected Kindness

Patrick and I recently celebrated our One Year Anniversary...Yay Marriage!! You can see the happy couple below:

Happy Birthday to our Marriage!

We celebrated at the lovely Historic Fairview Inn in Jackson, MS (thanks to Living Social Escapes) with a romantic weekend just far enough away from the business of life. I do hope to go back again. But then again, who wouldn't after feeling like a Queen for a weekend?!

On the way back from our celebration Patrick was driving and I was trying to get comfortable in the passenger seat, but it just wasn't working. Something was missing...and it just so happened that the missing piece was a pillow in the trunk of our car. So, Patrick, being the knight in shining armor that he is, pulled the car to the side of the road to get it for me. The road we had stopped on was one of those "Highway" roads that are two lanes with a 55 mph speed limit. Luckily it wasn't too busy...otherwise I don't think I would've let him get out...no matter how uncomfortable I was! Not 5 seconds after we stopped, another car pulled up behind us. Now, I'm not going to lie, my gut reaction was, "Oh no! What do they want!" I guess that's just the world we live in today...with all the bad news I hear on the radio. Quite the contrary, though! He was a Southern Gentleman, and he wanted to see if we needed any help! I was astonished! And then I felt really bad because A#1) I had jumped to the conclusion that he was somehow out to get us; and B#2) His stop was in vain, because we were simply a doting husband getting a pillow out of the trunk of our car for an "on the verge" cranky wife!

His unexpected kindness was a breath of fresh air, to say the least. Honestly, it made me wish I was a big, burly, man for a second, so that I could stop on the side of the road to see if a weary traveler needed help. Thanks, Richard, for stopping to help us!! And thanks for re-instating my confidence that there are indeed kindred spirits all around us.

Moral of the Story: Look for the best in those around you and you just might find that it's right there in front of your face...even when you least expect it!

Boiling Blood

Blood! Boiling Blood!


You know that You Tube video with the kid who says "blood" in a funny and really cute way? Well if you don't, check it out here: Not Funny Blood


Even though, yes, this video is very funny to most viewers...the part I would like to highlight is that from the kid's perspective it's "not funny." It is very serious indeed.


Well I am in a "serious" situation now and my blood is boiling. It's one of those situations where I see things one way (one very simple and logical way, might I add) and someone else sees it completely differently, and is not responding how I think they should respond. My hairs are raised and my blood is "boiling." And I am not laughing, but I feel like everyone else is. (Well I can't say everyone...Patrick is standing by my side...it's one of those huge perks of this whole marriage thing...always having someone on your side. I do have to give him props. Thanks, Sweetie! :)


Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? I'm trying to talk myself down and it just doesn't seem to be working! I keep thinking, "If only they truly understood my heart in the matter and saw things from my perspective!" The tricky part is that I don't know this person very well at all AND we're in a professional relationship, so there's lot's of "cordialness" and "red tape" that are preventing me from saying what I really want to say. After a quick self-diagnosis, I would say I'm assuming way too much. I really don't know how this other person is taking what I'm saying, or why they're saying what they're saying. I have no right to assume that he/she is thinking negatively of me and reacting in this way out of spite. In all honesty, this sticky situation could be just that... an innocent sticky situation. AND heaven forbid, I take a moment to try and see things from his/her perspective! (what?!) Oh, and did I mention that this situation has mostly been in email and an occasional phone conversation? Another huge trigger for misinterpretation! Just what I need.


Speaking of what I do really need....that is your help. What do you do in these sticky situations? How do you talk yourself down? Are there Bible verses you bring to mind or prayers you say? It's bedtime and I need to lower my heart rate so that Patrick can get some sleep without a fuming wife at his side. (those air traffic controllers really need their sleep...let me tell you!) Thank you for listening and for your thoughts. I'm starting to feel better already.


Moral of the Story: If you're in a sticky situation and you feel misunderstood, take some time to step back, breath and really reflect on the situation. God will show you what to do...and if not immediately, He'll at least provide an outlet for your frustrations in a friend or perhaps a soul mate...or maybe even a blog ;)